Bill for more Sipalay courts awaits Aquino’s nod

REPRESENTATIVE Mercedes Alvarez (6th district, Negros Occidental) is looking forward for President Benigno Aquino III to sign into law her bill seeking additional regional trial courts in Sipalay City.

Alvarez said bill has already hurdled the House of Representatives and the Senate, and will become a law once signed by the President.

She said the coverage of the RTC will be determined by the Supreme Court and she expects that the new RTC will cover Sipalay City and Hinobaan.

At present, Cauayan, Hinobaan, Ilog, Candoni, Kabankalan and Sipalay City are under the jurisdiction of RTC Kabankalan.

Alvarez said she came up with the bill because she felt the difficulty of those having cases, especially those from Hinobaan and Sipalay City, having to go to Kabankalan City to attend and follow up on their cases, considering the distance that they have to travel.

"This also my contribution to the judiciary branch of our government," said Alvarez, who is also a lawyer.

Alvarez is also a co-author of a law that simplifies corrections of names and other errors in the live birth that would no longer need court proceedings instead having the corrections done through the Local Civil Registrar’s Office.